Air sampling system and method of use thereof

Abstract

A automated multiple air sampler comprising a pump connected to a manifold, the manifold branching off to a plurality of conduits, each of the conduits connected to a corresponding cassette via a corresponding valve element, each cassette comprising an inlet exposed to the ambient air, an outlet fluidly connected to the conduit, and a filter element between the inlet and the outlet and a controller configured to open and close the valve elements independently from one another. The air sampler permitting sampling ambient air by receiving a indication that the ambient air is to be sampled, the controller operating one of the valve elements, including opening the valve element and closing the valve element, receiving another indication that the ambient air is to be sampled, the controller repeating the step of operating for another one of the valve elements, and tracking the operation of the valve elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An air sampler for sampling ambient air, the air sampler comprising:
 at least one pump fluidly connected to a manifold, the manifold branching off to a plurality of conduits, each of the conduits connected to a corresponding cassette via a corresponding valve element, each cassette comprising an inlet exposed to the ambient air, an outlet fluidly connected to the conduit, and a filter element between the inlet and the outlet; and 
 a controller configured to open and close the valve elements independently from one another; 
 wherein the inlets of the different cassettes form distinct inlets of the air sampler; and 
 wherein the controller has a processor and a memory, the memory having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the air sampler to
 receive a first indication that the ambient air is to be sampled; 
 operate one of the valve elements, including 
 open the valve element to establish a flow of ambient air across the corresponding filter element, 
 close the valve element, thereby interrupting the flow of ambient air across the corresponding filter element; 
 receive a subsequent indication that the ambient air is to be sampled, 
 repeat the step of operating for another one of the valve elements and corresponding filter element, said repeating contingent upon receiving said subsequent indication; and 
 track the operation of the valve elements, wherein said repeating is further contingent upon said tracking yielding that at least one of said valve elements has not yet been operated during said air sampling sequence. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The air sampler of  claim 1  wherein said operate one of the valve elements further includes operate the pump to draw the ambient air found in the surrounding environment in sequence through the corresponding filter element and the valve element, towards the pump.